Christian Barmore fell to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots in the second round of the NFL Draft.
As the No. 38 overall pick, the Philadelphia (Pa.) native is turning heads. He is one of the reasons that the Patriots are in a position for a playoff push at 4-4. The 6-foot-4, 310-pounder recorded his best outing as a rookie defensive lineman versus the Los Angeles Chargers.
Justin Herbert, the No. 6 pick of the 2020 draft, is one of the talented young quarterbacks in the league.
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Barmore made him uncomfortable all game.
He collapsed the pocket, dominated the Chargers’ offensive line, shared a sack, and forced two interceptions off Herbert.
Despite his size, Barmore has elite quickness, explosiveness, power, and pass-rushing capabilities from inside. He recorded four tackles in assisting New England to a 27-24 victory over the Chargers on the road.
Barmore won a College Football Playoff National Championship at Alabama in 2020.
Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Christian Barmore (58) reacts after his sack against Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book (12) during the second half in the Rose Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
He arrived on campus as a four-star in 2018 and became impactful the following season.
During 2019 and 2020, he tallied 10 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hurries, five pass breakups, and three forced fumbles.
Barmore led the Crimson Tide for sacks (eight) in 2020, helping the program to an undefeated season. He took over the national title matchup versus Ohio State, winning Most Valuable Player on defense. Regardless of dropping to the second round, the Patriots got a first-round talent.
Kyle Van Noy, a veteran linebacker, spoke on Barmore to Tom Curran of NBC Sports in Boston.
The two-time Super Bowl Champion called the rookie ‘a problem in a good way.’
“[Christian Barmore] is a problem, and I mean that in a good way… being that big and fast, you don’t find a lot of humans like that.”@KVN_03 explains to @tomecurran what makes the #Patriots rookie defensive tackle so special. pic.twitter.com/kzdLbr3F0G
— NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) November 3, 2021
“B-more is a problem for offenses and offensive coordinators for sure,” Van Noy said. “What he can do at his size, strength, and speed is pretty amazing. I am excited for him as he continues to get better each week. He’s willing to learn, and he comes with an attitude every week. He’s doing a good job of being disruptive. Being that big and fast, you don’t find a lot of humans like that.”
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Van Noy said if Barmore continues to take coaching, he’s going to separate himself from others.
He was a force at Alabama, and he’s becoming a force in the pros.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
